The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-19
Not Yet Settled.

The question of the location of the new
public building is not yet definitely settled,
notwithstanding the announcement of the
Secretary of the Treasury that the Bull
street front of the barracks property has
been accepted. The government doesn't
accept any property to which it cannot get
clear title, and there is some doubt, it
seems, whether it can get clear title to the
barracks property. In view of the fact that
the property was bought from the govern
ment, it was thought that the question of
title would be quickly settled. 1t appears,
however, that the city authorized the con-
veyance of the property to the government
in 1888, for barracks purposes, and when
the government sold it in 1888, the city con-
sented to- its transfer to the parties who
purchased it, provided it were used as a site
for a hotel The following shows the posi-
ton Of the city with respect TO the property:
Extract from Minutes of meeting of City
Council of Savannah, Nov. 14th, 1888.
Resolution by Alderman O'COnnor.
WHEREAS, An ordinance was passed by the
Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah,
on the I'D day of August, 1888, authorizing the
conveyance TO the United SteteS of the piece of
ground in said city of Savannah, bounded by
Bull, Harris, Drayton and Liberty streets for
accommodation of the troops of the United
States; and,
WHEREAS, The said piece of land, so author
lied to be conveyed, is about to be sold at public
cutlery by the United States. and a great desire
is manifested by the public that the same shall
be purchased for the purpose of building hotel
thereupon; therefore, be it
RESOLVED. by the Mayor and Aldermen in
Council assembled, That the city of Savannah
will make no claim to any reversonary or other
right in said piece of ground sprovided, however,
"a 10 0f fhn alaa
for the purpose of building hotel, as aforesaid,
and to be used therefor.
1t would seem, therefore, that before the
government can get a satisfactory title to
the property the city must again relinquish
all claim to it. Win it do so p! That is a
question for tine Mayor and Aldermen to
answer.
Their duty is plain. They must look out
for the best interests of the city. Will they
do 80 by permitting the new public build
ing to be located on the barracks lot
Clearly not. And why Because the site
is too far away from the business portion of
the town; because it will lessen the attrac-
tions of Bull street as promenade, and be-
cause it will delay the building of a new
hotel for perhaps quarter of century.
If the holders of the barracks property
are given to understand that they cannot
sell it except for hotel purposes, they will
exert themselves to find purchaser who
will build hotel upon it. There is no other
eligible hotel site that can be obtained at
any reasonable price. 1t is the duty of the
Mayor and Aldermen to do all they can to
get both the new public building and new
hotel. We shall get the new public build
ing even if the government does not get the
barracks site, but we may not get the hotel
if the government does get that site.
There is another thing for the Mayor and
Aldermen to consider The bill to sell the
court house site has passed the House, and
doubtless will pass the Senate. If the gov
eminent does not get the barracks site it
may be induced to purchase the court house
site, which would be satisfactory to every
body. The county would sell the court
house site for the same amount the govern
ment has agreed to pay for the barracks
SITE The failure of the government to get
the barracks site may result in giving us
new hotel and new court house as well as
a new government building.
If the court house site should not prove
satisfactory 10 the government there are
other sites which can be obtained that would
be satisfactory both to the government and
to the people of Savannah. IL the city
should refuse to relinquish its claim to the
barracks site, then the business men of the
city should set to work at once and assist
the government in getting a site that would
so nearly meet with the approval of all
interests that there would be no more
wrangling over the matter.